Determination of the Physical Integrity of Ethernet Cables by Obtaining their Transmission Line Parameters from Measured Impedance Profiles

Abstract

A method of determining the physical integrity of Ethernet cables by obtaining their transmission line parameters (resistance, inductance, capacitance, and conductance) from their measured impedance profiles are presented. The transmission line parameters were extracted across the cable lengths rather than frequencies used in most research. The method can be used to examine the physical integrity of Ethernet cables before their deployment. The study of the physical integrity of Ethernet cables is very important because, in typical installations, cables can be manipulated in the form of repeated coiling and uncoiling. The installation handling stress can adversely affect the signal integrity especially if they are substandard Ethernet cables. In this paper, four Ethernet cables were subjected to three coiling and uncoiling tests to represent installation handling stress. The impedance profiles of the four cables across their lengths were measured for the three handling stress test conducted. The computation of the transmission line parameters of the Ethernet cables using measured impedance profiles was implemented with the aid of Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB). The outcome of the research showed that the method presented will be very useful to cable installers and contractors in making objective decisions in the choice of cables for deployment.